Picking up the tab for Dover politics: City website posts who contributed how much to who for mayor, council races

Saturday

Oct 29, 2011 at 3:15 AM

By Laurenne Ramsdelllramsdell@fosters.com

DOVER — The city has posted dollar figures for the amounts contributed and spent for each City Council candidate's political campaign, and the numbers are all across the board.

In the race for mayor, which has three individuals vying for the title, incumbent Mayor Dean Trefethen received $360 in contributions for his campaign, $50 of which came from former City Councilor Doug Dede. Trefethen reportedly spent a total of $1,299.50 on signs and paper.

Challenging Trefethen are candidates Don Medbery and Mary Hebbard. Medbery received contributions from 12 individuals, totaling $1,875. To purchase signs, posts, stamps, staples, envelopes, a radio ad, gasoline and to pay for printing, Medbery is reported to have spent $1,804.30 on his campaign so far.

Hebbard received $960 in contributions, of which $200 came from former City Councilor David Scott, $250 from two anonymous donors and $250 from former state Republican Party Chairman Jack Kimball. Hebbard's expense form indicates she spent $1,004.20 on her campaign toward items such as signs, posts and pamphlets.

Though Ward 1 candidate Ed Spuler did not submit his forms to the city by the Oct. 27 deadline, he told Foster's he has received $0 in contributions and has spent around $90 for fliers advertising his campaign. Spuler is running unopposed.

Ward 2 candidate and incumbent Councilor Bill Garrison, also running unopposed, has reportedly spent $0 on his campaign and has received $0 in contributions. Garrison told Foster's he kept his plastic campaign signs from the previous election year and was able to reuse them for his 2012-2013 campaign.

Both current Councilor Jan Nedelka and resident Marc Jennings, who are vying for the Ward 3 council seat along with resident Michael Crago, received $0 in contributions for their campaigns.

Crago reported that he received $700 in contributions, of which $400 came from the Dover Republican Committee and $200 from former City Councilor David Scott.

Nedelka has spent $682.51 on items such as voter checklist, office supplies and yard signs, while Jennings has spent $500 on signs and brochures advertising his campaign. Crago has spent $732.62 on fliers, signs and gasoline to go out and meet the voters.

Ward 4 incumbent Dorothea Hooper is reported to have received $50 in contributions and has spent $352.27 on yard signs and door knob hangers advertising her campaign for re-election. Hooper's challenger, Rick Hebbard, received $0 in contributions and has spent $481.40 on signs, posts and pamphlets.

Uncontested for the first time, Councilor Catherine Cheney is reported to have spent $0 on her campaign and to have received no contributions. Like Garrison, Cheney said she is reusing materials from prior election years and has had to purchase nothing new as she runs for re-election as the Ward 5 seat holder.

Michael Weeden and incumbent Councilor Gina Cruikshank, who are both vying for the Ward 6 council seat, received nearly the same amount of contributions for their campaigns.

Weeden obtained a reported $1,000 in contributions, of which $50 came from the New Hampshire Young Republicans organization. Cruikshank, who is seeking re-election for a second term, received $1,275 in contributions, of which $250 came from current Councilor Dennis Ciotti.

Weeden has spent $1,097.17 on his campaign thus far for items such as signs, palm cards, fliers and gasoline to go out and meet his possible constituents. Cruikshank has spent $516.07 on her website, signs and magnets.

The three individuals seeking to fill two at-large positions are vastly different in their political contributions and expenses.

Current Councilor Bob Carrier, who is asking voters to move him from his Ward 1 seat to an at-large position, has received $100 in contributions and has spent $432.50 on signs. Don Andolina has received $0 in contributions and has spent $450 on signs for his campaign. Current At-large Councilor Karen Weston, who also holds the title of deputy mayor, has also received $0 in contributions and has only spent $32.50 on sign posts.

All of the aforementioned information can be accessed on the city's website under the City Clerk/Tax Collection tab.

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